The World Bank’s support through the Basic Education Quality and Equity Improvement Project (PAQEEB) has benefited over 2,000,000 basic education students, with 1,100,000 of them being girls. This support led to the construction of new classrooms, provision of school uniforms for 76,965 girls from disadvantaged areas, and training of 15,280 primary school teachers in the use of new textbooks for reading and mathematics.
This year, Amana is enjoying school more than ever. The young schoolgirl is delighted to see her new classroom in the village of Lavié Péniel come to life in just a few months. This development has been a blessing for the community in the Plateaux region, where children had to overcome significant obstacles to attend school.
The principal of the Lavié Péniel Public Primary School, Dabitora Saguintaah-Tiwarka, expressed pride in the new building, which has attracted students back to the school. Parents like Deborah Tchané also find joy in the new infrastructure and note improvements in their children’s academic performance and comfort at school.
Under the PAQEEB project, 101 new schools are under construction, with 164 classrooms completed countrywide. Communities actively monitor the infrastructure developments through Primary School Management Committees (COGEP) to ensure quality and timely completion.
The project also focuses on teacher training, with over 7,500 primary school teachers benefiting from training in new teaching methods. The impact is already being felt, with teachers noticing improvements in student performance and motivation.
In addition to infrastructure and teacher training, the project includes initiatives like providing school uniforms to girls from vulnerable families. The uniforms not only alleviate financial burdens but also boost girls’ confidence and dedication to their studies.
Overall, the PAQEEB project has significantly improved access to quality education for students in Togo, with communities and stakeholders actively involved in the process to ensure its success.